If you are the adventurous type, the desert trip from Er-Rachidia to Figuig will blow your mind. It is a ten-hour journey through the isolated lands of eastern Morocco, dominated by spectacular red mountains. Peering out the window of your bus, you will notice very little human presence in the arid landscape — only a couple of mining villages and military outposts. You may have to change buses at Bouarfa, a small town with a couple of hotels if you need to rest.
Figuig is a medieval desert town situated in the largest date palm oasis in Morocco, with over 200,000 trees. The town is composed of several ksour (fortified villages), each within its own palm oasis and enclosed by walls. For centuries the ksour were fiercely independent, fighting each other over limited water and family feuds. The prettiest is El Maiz. For the best panoramic view, climb to the platform above the Zenaga ksar, where you can see the full sweep of the oasis against the surrounding mountains. In the Ksar Loudaghir, an old minaret dating back seven centuries still stands.
Until 1960, Figuig had a large Jewish population. Today the people are predominantly Berber. The Moroccan-Algerian border is nearby but has been closed for years.
The area is good for long hikes through desert and oasis landscapes. Accommodation and transport are minimal — one hotel, one bus a day — but that is part of the appeal. Figuig gives you a genuine feel of a remote desert border town, far from the tourist trail.